The Magistrate: Chapter 2 (Patreon)

It's 1 am here, and I'm more tired than I thought I was. I'm going to crash and finish grammar checking the other chapters first thing in the morning. There will be a 12 hour pause sorry. Chapter 2

Getting up to Speed.

For the next nine days, Magistrate Park gave Tobias a crash course in magistrate politics, warning him about all the dangers and pitfalls that came with being an independent magistrate. Tobias was wise enough to recognise he was being prepared for something unpleasant, but he also recognised that Magistrate Park was going out of his way to help him. Giving him extra lessons in the early morning and evening that the other new magistrates didn't receive.

On the tenth day, Magistrate Park summoned Tobias to his office shortly after dawn.

Tobias entered the small room, wearing his new magistrate robes. They were made from baby blue materials similar to cotton and silk and were more comfortable than anything he had worn since this life began. The ministry tailors were preparing another like it from the material he'd been given as part of his salary, with enough left over for three more.

If he were ever promoted, he would have to change his robes for slightly darker ones. Tobias didn't expect that to happen and was fine if it didn't. His experience as a magistrate was already his most pleasant work experience of his current life, and hiding in the bureaucracy was all he cared about.  

Tobias cupped his hands and bowed. "Magistrate Finch greets Magistrate Park."

Magistrate Park motioned to the empty chair. "I've found an appropriate assignment for your unique lack of cultivation divinity."

Tobias caught his robes before he sat, so they didn't pull awkwardly. Navigating through everyday life in the elaborate outfit was a minor nuisance, but not something he would ever complain about. The security the garment provided was worth any small hassle like this.

Tobias rested his gaze on the other man's shoulder. "This one thanks you for the assistance, Magistrate Park."

"I'm assigning you to the state assignment hall at Cloud Sect as the state liaison. You will work on the state's behalf, procuring cultivation resources from the sect and ensuring it adheres to the laws of The Three Kingdoms. This is a position of great honour and responsibility."

Tobias could tell there was a catch, but there was little he could do. He didn't have the standing, backing, or seniority to turn down what sounded like an important assignment. Instead, he tried being overly humble.

"This one is not worthy of such an esteemed position."

Tobias knew very little about sects other than that they were places where cultivators were taught to cultivate. They were supposedly places of great mystery and wonder, but all of those claims came from travelling storytellers.

Magistrate Park nodded. "You are correct. Until now, the position has been filled by lower magistrates, but both the sect and state felt that it was best to fill the position with a magistrate who lacks cultivation divinity going forward."

"May I ask why?"

Magistrate Park gave him a pointed look, telling Tobias to back off. "There were incidents. Repeated incidents."

Tobias had read the Zodiac Cultivation Manual cover to cover several times, so he now knew significantly more about cultivation than he had when he arrived. "I take it they want me because my lack of divinity makes it impossible for me to steal their cultivation secrets."

Magistrate Park winced. "I can't say, but perhaps you are correct."

Translation, someone was trying to steal sect secrets, and it had become so obvious that both the state and sect could no longer ignore the matter. Neither was willing to openly admit the problem, so they devised a solution that would make the issue disappear without anyone having to lose face. The fact that Tobias was now wedged between sect and state politics wasn't their problem.

Tobias watched his dreams of a simple life vanish before his eyes.

***

Crispy roast pork and fresh fish broth ramen were more than enough to make Tobias forget his troubles. As a magistrate, Tobias now earned two silver teals every ten days. That was more money than his entire family earned in a year. That was enough money to eat out every day, pay for his lodgings at a reasonable inn, and have enough left over for a bit of entertainment. This didn't come close to his old life on Earth, where he was an internationally recognised insurance adjuster for multi-billion-dollar corporations. However, it was a luxury compared to everything he'd experienced in this world until now. And Tobias planned to enjoy this to the best of his ability.

The politics involved in his new assignment could easily get him killed. Cloud Sect had executed the last three lower magistrates who held his position, paying the blood price for their deaths. As a magistrate, Tobias's blood price was now ten thousand silver teals, which was more than the town near his village was worth, and that included everyone in it. He didn't know how much it would cost to kill a lower magistrate, but it had to be in the hundreds of thousands, and they had done it three times.

They weren't playing around.

When it came down to a choice between pleasing the sect and pleasing his boss, Tobias was leaning towards pleasing the sect. There was a lot of autonomy with his assignment, with no direct oversight from the local lower magistrate, so it was unlikely that upsetting the man would get him killed, unless he was the one having people steal secrets.

His assignment was an utter mess in his opinion, but it was still better than peasant life. At least he couldn't be killed on a whim anymore.

Tobias smiled as he popped another piece of roasted pork belly into his mouth with his chopsticks. The last time he'd eaten meat, before becoming a magistrate, was nearly three months earlier, when his father and uncle went hunting in the middle of Winter to stretch their stores. The smoky fatty flavour was worth the years of study and all the lies he'd told his family.

Tobias was so engrossed in enjoying his meal that he failed to notice the two men approaching his table until they stood right next to him. The two men looked like grandfather and grandson, with the older man wearing the same baby blue magistrate robes that Tobias did and the younger being some form of cultivator.

His skin was too flawless for him to be anything else. Tobias only knew that it was a sign of a cultivator because of the Zodiac Cultivation Manual.

The moment he noticed them, Tobias shot to his feet and cupped his hands and bowed, fear gripping his heart. "Magistrate Finch greets his senior."

The elderly magistrate returned the bow. "Magistrate Ching greets Magistrate Finch. This is my older brother, Cultivator Ching."

Tobias froze for a second, unsure if he'd heard the other man right. His older brother looked to be in his mid-twenties. Tobias quickly got over his shock and bowed again to the older man.

He'd read that cultivators could live for centuries, but reading and seeing were two different experiences. And the few cultivators he had seen would never speak to someone of his previous station, except to give orders or beatings.

Tobias forced himself to almost meet their gaze, and a shudder of abject terror ran through him as he did. Getting used to having such a high status was difficult for him. It felt like he was laying his neck on the chopping block whenever he tried to act as an equal.

"How may I be of assistance?" Tobias asked, though the words felt wrong in his mouth.

Magistrate Ching smiled. "My brother and I are travelling towards the Cloud Mountains and heard that this is where you are going from your driver. Would it inconvenience you if we were to join you in your carriage for a few days?"

As a magistrate, Tobias had been given a carriage to travel to his assignment. Inviting another magistrate to join him was perfectly fine. However, Tobias needed to study, and there wasn't a lot of room in the carriage.

Tobias motioned to the scrolls sitting on the edge of the table. "I wish I could agree, but I've been given an assignment far above my current skills and will have to study diligently before I arrive at my destination."

Magistrate Ching's face softened. "That is a difficult position to be in. And I'm sure you have many questions about what you're learning. Of course, I would be willing to answer any of these questions while we travel. Scrolls are no substitute for firsthand knowledge."

Tobias considered the offer. "I should warn you that I will ask a lot of questions."

Magistrate Ching chuckled warmly. "You will not be the first young magistrate I've assisted. I'm sure I'll be fine."

***

Two days later, a frazzled-looking Magistrate Ching fell asleep midway through his explanation, much to his older brother's amusement. Cultivate Ching leaned over and placed a cushion between his younger brother's forehead and the carriage wall, so he wouldn't bruise his thin, weathered skin.

Cultivator Ching then grinned at Tobias. "Don't be concerned. You warned my brother that you would be asking a lot of questions, and it was his own hubris that made him think he knew what you meant by 'a lot.' I do believe you've managed to drag two decades' worth of personal experience out of him so far."

Tobias relaxed at the cultivator's friendly words, grateful he hadn't taken offence. "Your brother's answers have been more beneficial than I imagined. I may have gone a little overboard with my questions."

Cultivator Ching chuckled just as warmly as his brother. "Yet, I get the feeling you are just getting started."

"I am."

The easy-going cultivator continued to chuckle. "Since my brother is indisposed, perhaps I can answer any questions you might have. I am also benefiting from your hospitality after all."

"Were you also a magistrate?"

Cultivator Ching shook his head. "My talents lean towards cultivation. I'm the first disciple of Peace Master So. Thus, I should be able to answer any questions you might have about cultivation. Considering where you are going, a deeper understanding would be helpful."

Tobias assumed that this was some sort of accomplishment, based on how proud the man seemed to be about it, but didn't know how to appropriately react. "I've been told I have a cultivation divinity of one."

Cultivator Ching's face fell. "You have my sympathy, Magistrate Finch."

Tobias waved away the other man's concern. "Cultivation has never been my goal in life. I was merely pointing out that techniques and methods hold no interest or value to me, so you don't go into detail."

Cultivator Ching smiled. "That is a healthy attitude to have in your circumstances. What would you like to know?"

"What's dao, and why do cultivators need it?"

Tobias had read his cultivation a dozen times and still didn't understand what it was or how it operated. Everything else was reasonably straightforward, but dao eluded him.

Cultivator Ching raised his eyebrows. "That is a difficult place to start and far beyond what most in your position would consider important. Would you be able to clarify what you know about cultivation before I explain?"

Tobias nodded. "Cultivation begins with the mortal realm and the opening of the body's twelve greater meridians and the body meridian network. There are more than twelve body meridians, but upon opening and cleansing all twelve greater meridians, the lesser body meridians automatically open and cleanse on their own. Only after this has been achieved can a cultivator begin opening their greater energy meridians and enter the chi initiate realm. Progression through the chi initiate realm is similar to the mortal realm, except there are only eight greater energy meridians that need to be opened to trigger the opening and cleansing of the lesser energy meridians. The energy meridian network is also separate from the body meridian network and is what cultivator use for techniques and to grow their cultivation. How am I doing so far?"

"Everything you have said is accurate."

"I'm glad to hear that."

"However, we do not call it the chi initiate realm. It is simply known as the initiate realm. Based on your archaic name choice, I must assume you learned about cultivation from the Zodiac Cultivation Manual."

"I did."

"Cultivators will consider you ignorant if you use the ancient naming conventions. They are considered overly descriptive. The chi initiate realm is known as the initiate realm. The foundation establishment realm is the foundation realm. The core formation realm is the core realm. However, the nascent soul realm remains the nascent soul realm."

"Thank you for the correction."

"You are welcome. But I believe this gap in your knowledge requires further questions on my part."

"Anything you think will help me is greatly appreciated."

Tobias meant that. He was not prepared for the assignment he had been given or for what he would expect upon arrival.

Cultivator Ching smiled. "What is the purpose of reaching the peak of the mortal realm?"

Tobias almost said how reaching the peak was achieved before he realised the actual question. "A mortal body is incapable of surviving the amount of chi an open energy meridian will introduce to the body. Opening and cleansing the greater body meridians transforms the body into a vessel that is capable of containing chi's destructive nature. In this way, the purpose of the mortal realm is to progress to a state of being in which you are capable of manipulating large amounts of chi safely."

"That is correct? What is the purpose of the initiate realm?"

"In which context?"

"In all of them."

"Cultivators in the mortal realm can only manipulate chi within themselves-"

Cultivator Ching held up his hand, stopping his answer. "Those in the mortal realm are not considered cultivators by the cultivation world. However, we still refer to them as such, for they may become offended if we do not."

"That is an important clarification. Thank you again. Would it be considered demeaning for someone with significantly superior cultivation to refer to myself as Cultivator Finch?"

"No. It would be a sign of acknowledgement, Cultivator Finch."

Tobias did his best to cup his hands and bow in the small carriage. "I am not worthy of such recognition, Cultivator Ching."

"My master has taught me that one who understands cultivation is a cultivator, Magistrate Finch. I offer only the respect that I have been taught to offer. Now continue with your explanation."

"Those in the mortal realm can only manipulate chi within themselves. The chi they absorb is regulated through breathing techniques, and it is just a fraction of the chi that a single energy meridian can provide. Therefore, the purpose of the initiate realm would be to provide the cultivator with the necessary quantities of chi they need to expand and progress their cultivation."

Cultivator Ching smiled. "You have just avoided one of the greatest traps in understanding that cultivators ten years your senior fall into. You are also correct, please continue."

"After the initiate realm is the foundation realm. This is where you lay your dao foundation and switch from cultivation neutral chi to an elemental variety. This is achieved by expanding and strengthening all your meridians and transforming your body through the use of pills, tonics, or baths. Once this foundation is established, you progress through this realm by refining spiritual energy from chi and compressing it into energy droplets within your lower, middle, and upper dantians. This further reinforces your dao and spirit, so they're strong enough to house the core you will eventually need to form in your lower dantian to progress to the core realm. I believe these methods are referred to as body and spirit cultivation."

"We refer to body cultivation by this name. The other is simply known as cultivation. This is another example of archaic terminology."

"Thank you again."

"Please continue."

"Once you have formed your core through a heavenly tribulation and entered the core realm, you will progress through this realm by building layers around your core made from spiritual energy and dao insights. Both feed the nascent soul that lies within the core. If the cultivator successfully cultivates their nascent soul, the nascent soul will break free from their core when they attempt to ascend to the nascent soul realm, severing their current reincarnation from their previous lives and the karmic debt that came with them. A heavenly tribulation also occurs when this happens."

Cultivator Ching relaxed into his seat. "Who taught you about cultivation?"

"I have no formal training."

"You gained all those insights from reading manuals."

"I have only read the Zodiac Cultivation Manual."

"Only that?"

"Yes. Is that surprising?"

"It is. Most who walk the path of cultivation do so for power. This obsession with power tends to blind them to understanding what cultivation is. It takes them decades to understand what you already do."

"Is this a problem?"

"Young cultivators will think you are foolish, while older cultivators will feel pity that your talents can never be utilised. Tell me, what happens after you form your nascent soul?"

"From what I've read, you form a body made from chi but lose your cultivation and have to start over. However, your cultivation divinity rises to the point where you can light ten crystals, and your progress is substantially more impressive than in the past, likely due to a deeper understanding. The major difference occurs when you form your core for the second time. There is no nascent soul inside this core, so instead of feeding this growing soul your dao understanding and the spiritual energy you create, strengthens your soul instead."

"Correct on all accounts. Now, back to your original question. What's dao, and why do cultivators need it? Dao is a law that governs the universe."

Tobias scratched the back of his head. "I'm not sure I know what you mean?"

"The dao of wood says that wood burns. The dao of water says that if the wood is under water, it will not burn. These laws are constant, a part of the universe that cannot be changed."

"I believe I'm following."

"Without dao, our body, spirit, and soul are limited in how strong they can grow by the dao laws that govern these three. However, incorporating dao into your body, spirit, and soul allows you to go beyond mortal limitations."

"You've lost me again."

"Let me try to explain this another way. Cultivation is the pursuit of transforming mortality into immortality, and then ultimately, achieving true immortality. Immortality is not dying of old age or suffering from disease. True immortality makes it impossible for anything to kill you. Both cannot be achieved without dao."

"Why?"

"Because we are mortal."

"How does dao make us immortal?"

"Ah, I see where you're confused. You think of dao as some form of knowledge that gives you power."

"It's not?"

"No. Dao is everything you see. Fire is dao. People are dao. The wind blowing through the trees is dao. Love is dao. Rage is dao. This carriage and the clothes you wear are dao. Dao is anything that exists and is a universal absolute. There will always be fire and water, so these laws are written into the universe as a constant. They are essentially truly immortal. They cannot be destroyed. Cultivators take a piece of the universe's dao within themselves to borrow its immortality, allowing them to go beyond their mortal limits. Achieving true immortality is done by claiming a small piece of a universe's dao for yourself."

"A small piece?"

"The dao of fire has long since been claimed in the heavens by the God of Fire, but the dao of the burning juniper tree might not have been fully claimed. A cultivator will start by incorporating the dao of fire, but as time goes on, they will narrow their focus to a smaller part of that dao. Finally, when they are ready to ascend to the heavens, they will try to wrestle the dao of the burning juniper tree from the God of Fire to make themselves a true immortal. This, of course, is the wrong way to go about it."

Tobias was very confused. "It is?"

"Walking a dao path corrupts you. Incorporating the dao of fire into your being will change who you are to make you more like fire, so the universe can accept that you and the fire dao are one."

"Why does it change you?"

"When you learn new information, do you not grow more knowledgeable. The act of learning changes you. The same is true for walking a dao path. Only dao insights gained from a dao path cause a much stronger change in understanding than anything you can learn from a scroll or book. Hence, the changes from these insights are stronger."

Tobias believed he was following again. "If walking a dao path is the wrong way to go about it, what's the right way to go about it?"

"You walk your dao path."

"Your dao path? I don't understand the difference."

"Each of us is a fleeting part of the universe's dao, but we are a part of that dao. We can strengthen our connection to the universe's dao to the point where the universe accepts us as a constant."

"You're suggesting that you can make yourself a universal constant."

"Yes."

"How do you do that?"

"You get to know yourself, then you make changes to the parts of yourself you do not like, and finally you live as your true self. If you do so correctly, the spiritual energy you create will strengthen your dao, eventually making you a universal constant like fire, water, metal, earth, and wood."

"Is this the path you walk?"

Cultivator Ching shook his head. "No. I walk the dao path of peace."

"If walking your dao path is the correct way, why don't you follow it?"

Cultivator Ching chuckled. "Walking a dao path lets you borrow strength from that dao, but it comes at the cost of losing a piece of yourself to that dao. Losing a piece of myself to peace isn't something I regret, so it's an easy choice."

Tobias frowned for the first time. "How does peace give you strength?"

"I have achieved dao enlightenment and can surround myself with the dao of peace. When we stop for the night, I'll show you what I mean. No matter how hard you try, you will not be able to hit me. Every time you try, you will pat me on the shoulder or kiss my cheek instead."

That was hard for Tobias to believe, but he chose not to say so. Much of what he had learned about cultivation over the past few weeks seemed far-fetched. "What is the dao enlightenment that you mentioned?"

"You are trying to run before you have learned to crawl, but I am happy to indulge you. Cultivators hear dao whispers when they meditate or cultivate. Cultivators with higher divinity hear them when they do anything. These dao whispers are the laws set down by the heavens when they created dao and can be perceived when you are in the right frame of mind. Even then, they are very hard to perceive, but necessary for progressing your cultivation beyond the foundation realm."

Tobias nodded, indicating that he was following.

"When you successfully perceive these whispers and understand the words that are being spoken, you gain what is known as a dao insight. This is a small understanding of these universal laws and dao and something you will never forget. With enough insights that are related to one another, you can form a dao comprehension, which gives you some control over this dao and influences your cultivation. With enough related dao comprehensions, you can reach dao enlightenment, giving you significantly more control over this dao while accepting more of its influence over you."

"Is there a purpose beyond becoming stronger?"

"Dao enlightenment significantly improves your chances of surviving the nascent soul realm tribulation. It is not completely necessary, but the benefits are so great that none on the path to immortality should turn away from them."

Tobias nodded. "So, walking a dao path offers you external aid, but at a price of losing a piece of who you are. Walking your dao path offers you no external aid, but it comes at no cost."

"I didn't say it doesn't come without a cost. It's significantly harder to grow your dao than borrow one that already exists, but it does come with the benefits of not having to change who you are or wrestle a piece of the great dao from a god when you ascend."

"Yet most don't walk this path."

"It's out of necessity. Cultivation gives you strength. Borrowing a dao gives you more strength. Cultivators who walk their own path can never be as strong as a cultivator who walks a dao path. So, the moment cultivators began competing over resources, the correct path was doomed."

"So, dao is a universal constant, a law which governs reality, and it's necessary to incorporate them into your cultivation, because without incorporating them into your cultivation, there are mortal limits you cannot exceed."

"Yes. Do you have any more questions?"

Tobias grinned. "Of course, I do."